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All-Reviews.com Movie/Video Review
The Santa Clause 2
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  out of 4
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Starring: Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell
Director: Michael Lembeck
Rated: G
RunTime: 97 Minutes
Release Date: November 2002
Genres: Comedy, Kids, Christmas |
Review by Susan Granger
3 stars out of 4
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This whimsical, season-pushing sequel begins eight years after
divorced dad Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) took over as Santa Claus. While things are
thriving at the North Pole, Charlie (Eric Lloyd), the teenage son he left
behind, turns up on the "Naughty" list, having aroused the ire of Carol Newman
(Elizabeth Mitchell), the cynical school principal who's lost touch with the
spirit of Christmas. Plus, Scott's just discovered a loophole in his contract:
if he doesn't get married by December 24th, he'll have to give up chomping sugar
cookies and chugging hot cocoa to go back to civilian life. It's the "Mrs.
Clause" in tiny print. Not even a conference with Mother Nature, Father Time,
the Easter Bunny, Cupid, the Sandman and the Tooth Fairy, who wants to change
his name, can come up with an answer to the parental dilemma of juggling the
demands of work and children. So, as the slow de-Santification process begins,
Scott flies back to suburbia on a reindeer, leaving the elf Curtis (Spencer
Breslin) with a recently-constructed and somewhat faulty duplicate Santa to do
the seasonal preparations. But when militant toy soldiers start terrorizing the
elves and enforcing the rules, complications ensue. Never fear, though, it's all
quite heart-warming and sentimental. Even Charlie's deep-seated angst about
keeping his father's occupation a secret is scarcely a full-fledged adolescent
rebellion. Directed by Emmy award-winning Michael Lembeck ("Everybody Loves
Raymond," "Friends"), it's fanciful, genial, G-rated fare - and Charlie's caring
relationship with his little half-sister sets a sweet tone for blended families.
On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, "Santa Clause 2" is a jolly, seasonal 7.
But are you really ready for this snowy stocking-stuffer before you even buy the
Thanksgiving turkey?
Copyright © 2002 Susan Granger
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